Reflecting wrist band



March 13, 1956 R, E, BUCHHOLTZ 2,737,851

REFLECTING WRIST BAND Filed Oct. 24, 1952 /g IN V EN TOR.

HTTORNE Y United States Patent C REFLECTING WRIST BAND Reinhardt E. Buchholtz, Spokane, Wash.

Application October 24, 1952, Serial No. 316,590 1 Claim. (c1. 88-80 This invention relates to a Wrist band and more particularly to a band adapted to fit about a persons wrist and serve as a reflector which will be illuminated by the lights of a motor vehicle following occupied by a person wearing the band and thus allow the driver of the following vehicle to clearly see a hand signal thrust out of a vehicle to indicate intention to make a turn at night when it is difficult to see a hand or a person not wearing one of the bands.

One object of the invention is to provide a signaling band of such formation that it may be easily applied about a persons wrist Where it will be firmy held in place and prevented from turning about the wrist to a position in which light will be reflected by the headlights of a following motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling band so formed that a portion carrying a reflector is offset forwardly where it will not be covered by the sleeve of a coat and thus eliminate likelihood of the signal not being seen when a hand is thrust out of a vehicle to indicate that a turn is to be made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a band formed as a unit of resilient metal and having a portion carying a main reflector and arms serving to hold the band in place about a persons wrist and terminating in free ends directed towards each other and each carrying an auxiliay reflector and thereby indicating which way a persons hand is turned when extended for signaling purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrist band having its reflectors so mounted that they will be securely held in place and prevented from working loose from the band.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrist band which is of simple construction and can be manufactured at low cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the band applied to a persons wrist.

Fig. 2 is a view upon an enlarged scale showing the band partially in elevation and partially in section along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the under or inner surface of the portion of the wrist band carrying the main reflector.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing one end portion of the band and an auxiliary reflector carried thereby.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the wrist band applied about a persons wrist.

This wrist band, or signaling band as it may be termed, is formed of resilient metal and of such dimensions that it will fit snugly about a persons wrist when applied for use. The wrist band is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and has a centrally located circular portion 2 from opposite sides of which extend arms 3. The arms are of less width than the diameter of the central portion 2 and are curved longitudinally, as shown inFigure 2, so that the band conforms to the shape of a persons wrist and fits comfortably about the wrist when the band is worn. The arms are gradually reduced in width towards their free ends, which are spaced from each other, and at their free ends the arms are enarged to form circular terminals 4. As ends of the arms are circular the resilient band may be readily applied to or removed from a persons wrist and when it is in place about the wrist the band will fit snugly and be prevented from turning abou the wrist.

The large central portion 2 is formed with a large circular opening 5 having an enlarged outer portion defining an internal circumferentially extending recess or seat 6 and at the inner end of the opening are formed notches 7 which lead from diametrically opposite sides of the opening and extend longitudinally of the arms 3. A circular reflector 8 which is formed of glass, or other suitable material, and is preferably colored red to attract attention is fitted into the opening 5 from the outer end thereof and about this reflector is a metal holder 9 which engages the seat 6 and limits movement of the reflector inwardly through the opening. A clip 10 formed from a strip of resilient sheet metal extends across the under face of the holder 9 and is secured at its center by welding, as shown at 11, and ends of this strip are bent to form tongues or bills 12 which are downwardly offset and of such dimensions that they will fit into the notches 7 and hold the reflector in the seat 6 and also prevent the reflector from turning out of the position in which it is thrust into the opening 5. By so mounting the reflector it may be readily removed and a new one applied in case it becomes broken. When the wrist band is in use the reflector 8 is prominently displayed at the back of a persons wrist close to his hand and when a driver of a motor vehicle thrusts his hand out laterally from the vehicle with the back of his hand presented rearwardly, the headlights of a following vehicle will strike the reflector and cause it to glow and serve as a red signal indicating that a turn is to be made.

Since the arms 3 of the band slope rearwardly from: the large central portion 2 the reflector will be disposed forwardly of the free ends of the arms and thus held: forwardly of the cufl of a coat sleeve, as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve of a coat worn by the driver using the: wrist band will therefore be prevented from coveringv the reflector and preventing it from being clearly seen by the driver of a following vehicle.

Reflectors 13, which may be referred to as auxiliary reflectors or minor reflectors, are mounted at the free ends of the arms 3. Since these reflectors 13 are smaller than the main reflector 12 and near, but in spaced relation to each other, they can be readily distinguished from the main reflector and when they are seen by the driver of a following vehicle he will know that the driver wean ing the wrist band has his hand turned to present the palm rearwardly and indicate that he is going to stop or re duce speed. These auxiliary signals each fits into an opening 14 formed at the free end of an arm 3 and as the arms are each formed with a slot 15 leading from its end the companion fingers 16 may be spread apart and the reflectors 13 forced into the openings 14. The auxiliary reflectors are formed with a circumferentially extending groove or recess 16 into which the fingers 16 fit and the reflectors will thus be firmly held in place. The recess is arcuate transversely and the fingers have transversely rounded edges, thereby allowing the reflectors to be readily forced into or out of the openings when removal and replacement is necessary. Caps or covers 17 enclose portions of the auxiliary reflectors and have portions conforming to the grooves 16' and serve to prevent the reflectors from being chipped or broken while being forced into the openings. As portions of the cover are spun inwardly to form a retainer lip 18 the cover will be firmly held in place upon the reflector.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A direction signaling device comprising an eliptical band of dimensions adapting it to fit about a persons wrist; said band having an enlarged central outer por tion and arms extending in opposite directions therefrom at a rearward incline towards their free ends; said central portion having a relatively large opening therein; an annular rib about the marginal portions of said opening defining a recessed seat; said rib having diai'netrically opposed notches therein; a holder fitting about the inner portion thereof and seated against said rib; a resilient strip extending across the inner end of the holder and secured intermediate its length thereto; ends of said strip being bent in ofiset relation to the holder and engaged under the inner face of said band; a reflector secured in said holder; and a pair of spaced auxiliary reflectors on the free ends of the arms and disposed to reflect in a direction opposed to that of the first named reflector whereby the position of the signaling arm may be determined by the operator of a following vehicle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS wish... L 

